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Cindy Ellis
Age: 46
Degree: Associate of Science in Business Administration
Q. Tell about your educational background.
A. I graduated from Murray County High in 1977 and enrolled in Dalton State in 1978 with a major in computer programming, but I dropped out after a year to get married and have always regretted not finishing my degree.
In 2000, I started working for a company that contracted IT personnel to the Federal Government. I wanted to be hired as a regular government employee rather than a contractor. After doing some research, and with a great deal of encouragement from the managers there, I enrolled at Dalton State and was hired as a student through the government program. I had also managed to establish a grade point average that allowed me to take advantage of the HOPE Scholarship.
After telling Josh for his entire life how important a good college education is, I had to set a good example and finish what I started this time. Plus, he would never have let me forget it if I had quit!
Q. What has it been like to be a non-traditional student at Dalton State? And how was it to graduate alongside your son?
A. At first, coming back to school after so many years was scary. I was lucky enough to have Dr. Rita Moore for one of my first classes. She talked about how she returned to school after working and having a career. Without that talk, I might have bolted at the beginning.
The way classes are scheduled at Dalton State helped a lot as well. Everything I needed to take was offered in the evenings or very early in the morning, so I did not have too many conflicts with my work schedule.
I was lucky to be here while Josh was a student here. Because he was here during more traditional hours, he helped me keep up with what was going on around the campus. It was really nice to be included in “study time” with Josh and his friends in the Student Center and at Chili’s! Some days the only time we saw each other was in-between classes or on Sunday afternoons in the library.
To my regret (but probably his relief!), we never managed to be in the same class at the same time. It has been fun to see people’s faces when I tell them my son and I graduated together; their expressions are always “priceless.” I feel like we are much closer because of the shared experiences.
Q. Will you pursue further educational goals?
A. I plan to return to Dalton State to pursue a BBA in Management this summer.
Q. Have you faced any obstacles while pursuing your degree?
A. The biggest obstacle I have faced has been time. I work at least 40 hours a week and try to keep up with housework, yard work, and homework. There is never enough time to complete anything, so I get the feeling of being “scattered” and having too many things started and nothing finished!
Q. What advice would you give to other non-traditional students?
A. Do it. Just do it. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Housework will get done or not, but the world will not end because of it. The semester will end. When enough semesters end you will have a degree. You will feel better about yourself than you have in years. You will do things you thought you couldn’t. You will make friends of all ages and be inspired to do other things with your life that you never even thought you could.
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